Rugby Australia poised to serve Folau contractual breach notice in next 24 hours - reports
New South Wales rugby bosses have warned that it would be disaster for the sport if it was dragged through a drawn-out court battle with Israel Folau.
Rugby Australia are reportedly poised to slap the Wallabies star with a contractual breach notice as early as Monday following last Wednesday’s controversial Instagram post that suggested homosexuals and other groups – including drunks and atheists – were destined for hell. But rugby officials fear getting clogged up by months of litigation if Folau contests his likely dismissal.
The Sydney Morning Herald are reporting that Folau will have 48 hours to respond and request a code of conduct hearing following the receipt of a contractual breach notice. However, it’s unlikely any hearing will take place this week due to Easter and the need to tie a three-person panel into running any hearing in the case.
The report goes on to speculate that a code of conduct hearing might not be the end of the issue, as Folau can appeal the outcome and even take the matter to court in a bid to be paid out millions of dollars.
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A courtroom battle would be far from ideal for RA and the Waratahs, with NSW Rugby Union chairman Roger Davis telling the Herald: “The last thing our code needs is months of litigation, with appeals and counter-appeals in the courts over this issue. That would be a disaster for the game and only reinforces the need for the right and fair processes to be followed up front.
After spending Sunday afternoon with his congregation in north-western Sydney, the Wallabies superstar did not back down from his controversial comments made on social media last week | @gmaddox https://t.co/P6L2lfYSmN pic.twitter.com/kttjZGq36r
— The Sydney Morning Herald (@smh) April 14, 2019
“A lot of people think it will be resolved in two days but I don’t. We’ll have to wait and see how that all plays out. There are going to be no winners at the end of the day.
“Of course the outcome of the code of conduct process is uncertain and can’t be controlled as it is an independent process. But regardless I still think that is the right and fairest way to go and should avoid some of the potential problems we are now seeing with rugby league with Jack de Belin. [The NRL] evidently didn’t follow the agreed processes and thus regrettably now appear to have ended up in court.
“It begs the question – ‘can he [Folau] play (pending) the code of conduct (process)? We’ve suspended him for the time being and we’ll just wait and see what happens. You’ve got economic considerations, legal considerations. There could be an appeal, a counter appeal for a long period of time and he is still being paid. Either way there are a few more shoes to drop here.”
If this truly is the end of the road for Israel Folau in Australian rugby, his car crash-style exit will have been as swift and spectacular as his rise was meteoric. https://t.co/8EOSXd6CcA
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) April 12, 2019
Comments on RugbyPass
Wow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the deportation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
153 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
1 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
153 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
1 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
153 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
153 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
153 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
153 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
153 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
153 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
153 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
153 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
153 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
153 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
153 Go to commentsHo hum.
153 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
153 Go to comments